A Different Way to Monitor Breast Cancer Risk
Some women are born with a genetic predisposition that significantly increases their risk of developing breast cancer. In Canada, it is estimated that nearly two out of three women carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation will develop the disease during their lifetime. While these women undergo more frequent screening, current methods often rely on procedures that are burdensome, stressful, and not always sufficiently precise.
A blood test for early detection
With the support of funding from the Cancer Research Society (CRS), Dr. Rodney Ouellette, a physician and researcher at the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, is working to develop an innovative approach based on a simple blood test. His goal is to detect, at a very early stage, biological signals indicating the onset of breast cancer.
With his team, he analyzes small particles circulating in the blood called extracellular vesicles, which carry genetic information about the patient and any potential tumor. By comparing samples from women carrying the BRCA1/2 mutation who have developed cancer with those who have not, they hope to identify reliable early biomarkers capable of detecting cancer even before imaging tests can do so with certainty.
I want to personally extend my deepest gratitude for the generous support of the Cancer Research Society. These contributions enable us to pursue this groundbreaking project aimed at early detection of high-risk breast cancer using minimally-invasive liquid biopsy. Your support directly fuels our research, enabling us to push the boundaries of cancer diagnostics and improve early detection. This work has the potential to transform patient outcomes, making cancer care more precise and personalized.
Your impact
CRS funds promising projects aimed at improving patients’ lives. With the support of donors and partners, it contributes to the development of early detection and non-invasive methods. This project is a strong example of that mission. In the long term, this approach could enable screening and monitoring of high-risk women through a simple blood test. It could also eventually be expanded to a much broader population.
Project Title:Early detection of high-risk breast cancer using plasma extracellular vesicles
New Brunswick
2024-2026,
$130,000